Theodor heuss

Joachim gauck
Roman herzog
Horst köhler

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Federal President Johannes Rau’s Berlin Speech (May 12, 2004)

Trust in Germany – an encouragement

Berlin speech by Federal President Johannes Rau

This is the last “Berlin speech” that I will be giving as Federal President. On this occasion in years past, I articulated my position on fundamental issues. I tried to provide guidance, as people expect from their country’s political representatives. I spoke about the integration of immigrants, about progress on a human scale, about the necessary structuring of globalization, and about Germany’s role in the world.

Today, I want to talk about what I consider the most important issue in the current political debate. In so doing I am addressing all who care about the future of our country – those who bear responsibility today, and also those who can and must take on responsibility so that our country can emerge from a difficult situation and gain new confidence and dynamism.

I am not referring to tax policy, I am not talking about the pension or health care systems. I am also not talking about the necessary restructuring of fede

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Johannes Rau

President of Germany from 1999 to 2004

Johannes Rau (German:[joˈhanəsˈʁaʊ]^ⓘ; 16 January 1931 – 27 January 2006) was a German politician who served as President of Germany from 1999 to 2004. A member of the Social Democratic Party, he previously served as the Minister-President of North Rhine-Westphalia from 1978 to 1998. In the latter role, he also served as President of the Bundesrat in 1982/83 and in 1994/95.

Education and work

Rau was born in the Barmen part of Wuppertal, Rhine Province, as the third of five children. His family was strongly Protestant. As a schoolboy, Rau was active in the Confessing Church, which resisted Nazism.

Rau left school in 1949 and worked as a publisher, especially with the Protestant Youth Publishing House.

Political career

Rau was a member of the All-German People's Party (GVP), which was founded by Gustav Heinemann. The party was known for proposing German reunification from 1952 until it was disbanded in 1957.

In 1958, the pacifist^[1] Rau and his political mentor, Gus

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Johannes Rau (1999–2004)

1931Born on16 January in Wuppertal-Barmen1949-1967Worked in the publishing trade1952Joined the All-German People's Party (Gesamtdeutsche Volkspartei - GVP), which was disbanded in 19571957Joined the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD)1964-1978Member of Wuppertal Town Council1970-1978Minister of Science and Research of Land North-Rhine/Westphalia1973-1998Member of the SPD Executive Committee of Land North-Rhine/Westphalia1977-1998Chairman of the SPD Executive Committee of Land North-Rhine/Westphalia1978-1999Member of the SPD Federal Executive Committee1978-1998Minister-President of Land North-Rhine/Westphalia1982-1983President of the Bundesrat1982-1999Deputy Chairman of the SPD1987SPD Chancellor candidate at the Bundestag elections1994-1995President of the Bundesrat23 May 1994Defeated in the election for the office of Federal President by Professor Roman Herzog27 May 1998Resigned as Minister-President2 November 1998Nominated as candidate for the office o